On Monday, Attorney Gen. Eric Holder asked federal prosecutor John Durham to examine whether CIA interrogations of suspected terrorists were illegal in the months and years after the September 11 attacks.

Holder said he decided to expand Durham's mandate after examining reports from the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility as well as a classified version of the 2004 CIA inspector general's report into questionable interrogation techniques, among other documents."

King is the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee and a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence. His comments are significantly more critical than those of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, who called the decision "poor and misguided."

The White House said Tuesday that President Obama supported Holder's decision.

"It's a total breach of faith, and either the president is intentionally caving to the left wing of his party or he's lost control of his administration," King said Tuesday.

soundoff(314 Responses)

Island girl

Gee, I thought that Republicans were meek and lowly god-fearing people – NOT!

First of all this obnoxious and foul-mouthed Long Island congressman's oral cavity needs a good rinsing with carbolic soap. I'll never forget when this bigot (yes he is!) made such a fuss when tributes starting flooding the airwaves after Michael Jackson's passing. Now look, the circumstances surrounding the man's death evolved into a criminal case! This is nothing trivial.

Back to Peter King and his latest tirade. I won't say much except that he and Cheney are in the same self-made torture chamber. They are so worried about skeletons in the closet that they are beside themselves.

No matter what they say or do about Pres. Obama's team it will prevail and all things done in darkness will come to light. GOD'S WILL BE DONE!

August 25, 2009 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

john

This administration is an embarassment. Going after the people that proctect us. And before all you idiots start talking about torture, waterboarding is not torture. BEHEADING someone is torture. And please tell me how they treat our prisioners........OH, thats right they don't have any because they kill them. You Obama bin ladin supports are a joke.

August 25, 2009 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

kevin

Stay classy, King. What an idiot.

August 25, 2009 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

Hakim in Frisco Texas

Eric Holder is INDEPENDENT of the White House. People forget this during the Bush administration when the A.G. was a part of the white house. The President has stated his opinion of going forward, however, Holder has appointed a special prosecutor to examine to see if charges are worthy. One things Republicans won't say is that if crimes were committed then they should be prosecuted. Period. They can see how this is B.S. and it shouldn't be done, but one thing they won't say is that if a crime is committed there is a punishment for that crime. Remember we hear, ..."they kept us safe for 7 years". Well they were in office for 8 years and we know what happened in year one. If there was a terrorist attack next month, the worse one ever, every Republican would be blaming the President. Why do these same people give the Bush Administration a pass. I give them credit for the last 7 years but what about year 1. That they do not get a pass on and Republicans who blame Clinton would have to blame Bush if something were to occur now, you can't have it both ways.

August 25, 2009 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

Tom L

So the CIA waves a gun in front of him and makes false threats about harming his family. Big deal. The difference between us and them is that they actually follow through with those actions. Thanks, Mr. Holder, for making us weaker and more open to another attack.

August 25, 2009 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

BJC

Every military man or woman that had to be water boarded or put in gas chambers without masks should also sue the United States. If you can't torture REAL TERRORIST then you shouldn't do that to our military. I wonder if it was torture when the 3000 had smoke and fire blowing up their nose during 9-11?

August 25, 2009 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

Andrew

What a complete idiot. King is the type of politician we don't need – anywhere. He equates investigating illegal and immoral tactics with being on the side of terrorists. Shame one King.

August 25, 2009 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

Justice

Peter King is a moron.

August 25, 2009 02:40 pm at 2:40 pm |

walleye

These people just dont get it. Even though their torture techniques probably work, they dont seem to understand they diminish who we are and what we stand for as Americans. We have always been the standard bearers for the world. Why should we revert to being anything less?

August 25, 2009 02:40 pm at 2:40 pm |

Severino

Rep. King is right! It is outrageous to think that the Executive branch would actually dare to investigate possible war crimes. IT's their job to commit them, cover them up, then failing that, to play the patriotism card on the folks that caught them.

C'mon, Obama; did you learn nothing from President Cheney?

August 25, 2009 02:40 pm at 2:40 pm |

Scott

Ah, yes, here we go. Another, well thought out, eloquent response from the neo-conservative right. While I agree the probe is debatable (as are most issues in the world), it is still a ludicrous response. Perhaps if King were able to dialog in a manner consistent with the standards one would expect from his level of office, people on the other side of the fence might actually be willing to listen. This notion of nationalism, and blind patriotism at the expense of moral standards, is getting out of hand. The sooner we all start to realize we are part of a larger society (i.e. us and the rest of the world), the better off we will be. There is a reason why millions all over the world celebrated Obama's election in the fall, and it is not because he is black. It was because many of them started to see that we were finally capable of electing an official who views problems from a world perspective, not just this absurd notion of "Country First".

Also, Holder himself said that he will only be investigating tactics that went beyond those authorized by the justice department, hence "illegal".

August 25, 2009 02:40 pm at 2:40 pm |

Chris from NC

Which side are they on? Let me take a wild guess: The CONSTITUTION!!!!! That timeless American document which you took an oath to uphold and defend.

August 25, 2009 02:40 pm at 2:40 pm |

landscapebear

hmmmmmm, maybe if they weren't so partisan on health care reform and spreading lies in order to polarize the under-educated extremist base, the republicans would not have to worry about exposing the war crimes of the previous administration, if you ask me it's about time the democrats start playing hardball.

August 25, 2009 02:40 pm at 2:40 pm |

RN

Why do the republicans believe it is okay to break the law? Bush released a number of prisoners from Gitmo – we assume because they were determined to be innocent – or was he being careless?
This nation believes that a person is innocent until proven guilty – but few of the terrorists have been tried so, we do not know YET if they are guilty. Then how do we know who to torture?
Republicans are quick to say they believe in the constituion when deciding on the supreme court justices – but, when it comes to actual practice they abandon what this country stands for. They appear to believe in the power of a dictatorship. Maybe they should move to russia.

August 25, 2009 02:40 pm at 2:40 pm |

GI Joe

Another Republican that thinks spreading fear keeps them in POWER OVER US.

No more republicans.

Cheney used the Constitution as Toilet Paper after he crapped on the Geneva Convention. Cheney is not above the law and I can hardly wait for him to be imprisoned for his war crimes.

August 25, 2009 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

Cathy in AZ

Big surprise Peter King would be against this investigation. If there is nothing to hide, the GOP should not be so worried.

August 25, 2009 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

joe salters

they are helping the enemys buy bringing up this crap, if this continues , we will be in for more attacks.

August 25, 2009 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

Robin

More smoke and mirrors to take away from the fact that ObamaCare is STILL crashing and burning.

August 25, 2009 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

crump's brother

It would be nice to see Republicans defend the flag and the rule of law in this country instead of hiding behind it. But they spent eight years stomping on our flag for political gain. There are consequences for breaking the law.

August 25, 2009 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

Brian

The problem is with those who declared the 'enhanced' interrogation techniques legal, not those who carried them out as directed. This investigation needs to be into the bush-era DOJ, not the CIA!

August 25, 2009 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

Joonno

Wait, did this person just suggest the President of the United States isn't on the side of the American people? I thought Republicans *frowned* upon such unpatriotic statements.....

August 25, 2009 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

timz

If Rep. King and former Vice President Cheney want to imprison people indefinitely without charges and engage in state-sanctioned torture let them move to Russia where these activities have a long and respected tradition. Give me a call, guys–I'd be glad to help you pack.

August 25, 2009 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |

laura

Like I said to Dickie C., shut up Peter K. The truth will out and the truth is that the past administration was loaded w/ a bunch of amoral individuals. We can keep safe but keep it legal as well.

August 25, 2009 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |

Free and Thinking in Las Vegas

The Left are on the Side of the Honorable and Law Abiding.

G.W. Bush and Company started an illegal war by lying and defrauding the American people. G.W. Bush and Company are responsible for the deaths of 4,000 American troops and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi innocents.

The Left tried to stop the right from invading non-threatening countries and tried to end torture. The right is trying to block health care reform.
Now, you tell me, who is un-American?

What don't you Right Wing Screamers understand about those facts?

August 25, 2009 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |

robt

it's the right thing to do. if they find no wrongdoings, then no harm no foul. sounds like King is scard that they may find something and if they do i hope they go to prison forever. can you say do not drop the soap!!!!